Abstract / Synopsis

Gelam wood (Meleuca Cajiputi) was used as a precusor for the
preparation of activated carbon. Potassium orthophosphate, potassium hydroxide ,
phosphoric acid and carbon-dioxide were used as chemical and physical
activating agents. The industrial activated carbons AC (7080 and 4050) were used
as comparison. In addition physically activated carbon of rice husk was also
used in this study. Thirty grams of shredded gelam wood were impregnated
with 9% w/w K3P04, for the potassium hydroxide impregnation 9% w/w KOH
was impregnated with thirty grams of wood. 2. 2 M H 3P04 concentration of
phosphoric acid was used for the impregnation of thirty grams of gelam
wood.Then the impregnated wood was carbonized in a horizontal electric
furnace. The activated carbons were washed using 1.0 M nitric acid followed by
distilled water using reflux method.Surface area, functional group analysis, elemental analysis, pH effect, moisture
and ash content are some of the characterization methods done on the
activated carbons. The study of the surface morphology was done using the
scanning electron microscope. Elemental constituents of the activated carbons
was done using atomic absorption analysis. The atomic absorption spectra
showed that Ca, K, Mg, Zn, Pb and Fe were present m the activated carbons.